Sweeping Magazine - September 2020

Sweeping Steptember 2020 VOLUME 44 #8

The Journal of Chimney and Venting Technology

4 Quick & Easy Ways to Customize the Customer Experience & Get Happier Customers History Project— Sweeping the Past Meet a Member: Bill Majewski

4 Quick & Easy Ways to Customize the Customer Experience & Get Happier Customers

History Project— Sweeping the Past

Meet a Member— Bill Majewski

6 23 26

Sweeping September 2020 Volume 44 Issue 8

Table of Contents President’s Letter 3 Sweeps Say 4 Editor’s Letter 5 Tech Q&A 12 Coach’s Corner 16 Membership Memo 28 New Members 33 Around the Tech Center 34 In Case You Missed It 35 Classifieds 36

Digital illustration by David Bruce, Red2 Design Bureau

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Smoke Chambers and Cast in Place Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 706

Factory Built Fireplace Installation and Replacement (866) 283-8667 Ext. 701

Dryer Vents (866) 283-8667 Ext. 707

Gas Appliance Venting, Gas Logs and NFPA 54 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 702 Oil Appliance Venting and NFPA 31 (866) 283-8667 Ext. 703 Chimney Inspection, Documentation and NFPA 211 (Levels of Inspection) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 704

Installation and Venting of Pellet Stoves (866) 283-8667 Ext. 708 IRC and NFPA 211 (Code Questions) (866) 283-8667 Ext. 709 Customer Service and Customer Communication (866) 283-8667 Ext. 710 General Sweeping and Repair (866) 283-8667 Ext. 711

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019-2020

TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

Masonry Fireplace Construction and Restoration (866) 283-8667 Ext. 700

Stainless Steel Liner Installation (866) 283-8667 Ext. 705

Be advised that advice given by NCSG’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) reflects best practices of the chimney sweeping industry. However, we are unable to account for any particular type of situation since regional variations in construction practices and additional environmental, physical and geographical factors necessarily vary the level of service appropriate for a particular fireplace and/or chimney.

Additionally, local laws and ordinances may govern and/ or supersede the information and any recommendations provided. Final determinations are the responsibility of a local professional with firsthand knowledge of the situation, and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Neither NCSG nor any member of TAC will be held liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on information provided by anyone associated with TAC. By your use of this member benefit you acknowledge acceptance of these terms.

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STAFF

Resources 2155 Commercial Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 (317) 837-1500 Fax: (317) 837-5365

Megan McMahon Executive Director mmcmahon@ncsg.org

Penny Seals Academic Coordinator pseals@ncsg.org

Annemarie Stockton Director of Communications and Marketing astockton@ncsg.org

Sara Sichting Systems and Records Coordinator ssichting@ncsg.org

Russell Dimmitt Education Director rdimmitt@ncsg.org

Tammy Bruner Program Coordinator tbruner@ncsg.org

Brittney Burton Membership & Outreach Coordinator bburton@ncsg.org

Natalie Spruell Office Coordinator nspruell@ncsg.org

Charissa Benge Mahaffey Certification Coordinator cmahaffey@ncsg.org

Kaitlyn Gonzalez Administrative Assistant kgonzalez@ncsg.org

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Vice President, At-Large Director (Appointed) Thomas Hunkele topnotchchimney@gmail.com Treasurer, Region 1 Matt Mair matt@blackmoosechimney. com Secretary, Region 4 Jeff Keefer jeff@chimneycareco.com Region 2 Bill Thornton wissahickonvalleysweep@ yahoo.com

Region 6 Jesse Peralta chimcare@hotmail.com At-Large Joe Sauter joe@yourchimneysweep.com At-Large Director Steve Scally firesidesweeps@comcast.net At-Large Director (Appointed) Gregg Boss englishsweep@att.net Supplier Representative Stuart Karanovich stuartk@saversystems.com

Region 3 Ron Rust tophatswp@aol.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS and TASK FORCES 2019 – 2020

To contact any member of the Technical Advisory Council, please call (866) 283-8667 and select the extension for the person who is best qualified to answer your question:

President, Region 5 Jasper Drengler (715) 304-8934 drengler01@gmail.com

Bylaws Tom Hunkele (641) 774-8056 topnotchchimney@gmail.com

NFPA 211 Representative Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

Ethics Joe Sauter (317) 243-9687 joe@yourchimneysweep.com

NFPA 31 Representative John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com

Governance Bill Thornton (215) 540-9787 wissahickonvalleysweep@yahoo.com

NFPA 54 Jim Brewer (757) 523-2400 jbrewer@magic-sweep.com

Government Affairs Jeff Keefer 513-248-9600 info@chimneycareco.com

Technical Advisory Council Steve Scally (603) 895-8746 firesidesweeps@comcast.net

International Relations John Pilger (631) 863-2460 chimneyman@aol.com Membership Jesse Peralta (503) 655-2446 chimcare@hotmail.com

ADVERTISING RATES for Sweeping: The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technology may be obtained by contacting Malisa Minetree at (317) 815-4688 or sweepingads@me.com Layout and design by David Bruce, Red2 Design Bureau NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to editor Annemarie Stockton at astockton@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or a call to action on the part of our readers. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a .jpg format.

In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions to fit space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.

NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publication’s standards.

Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping magazine does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers. © 2020 National Chimney Sweep Guild, 2155 Commercial Drive, Plainfield, IN 46168. (317) 837-1500

T

President’s Letter

he year was 2002, I was a cocky young Certified Chimney Sweep in a room full of Wisconsin guild members. Most in attendance will claim to have known me since I could walk (most would be exaggerating). One sweep whose first name may or may not be Mark seemed to be well versed on the subject of gas and it was apparent to all in the room. In front of the classroom setting were many well organized carts full of tons of displays I didn’t quite understand. The wise man in front of us turned out to be one of the best subject matter

instructors I’d ever known. That man was Mr. Pomeroy. I swore I’d take any test that man ever proctored — he had a way of teaching that kept my A.D.D. in check. I was eager to learn and sell gas fireplaces, and I soaked up all the info I could. My effort to pay attention paid off as I’d later find out I was one of only a handful to pass the test.

Years later, I still enjoy working on, installing and building gas fireplaces. I love the problem solving. I can’t remember models, brands or part numbers, but I remember the component configurations and can

normally fix any gas appliances in the first trip.

I know I’d be super bored if gas wasn’t in my wheel house, as I’m aware some sweeps aren’t allowed to touch it in certain locations.

I love showing up to a customer’s house and fixing what others couldn’t. I love the flexibility of the installations. I love building new crazy modern masterpieces.

Oh…did I happen to mention it’s EXTREMELY PROFITABLE!

Jasper Drengler President

In reality, everything you do should be profitable, and gas appliances are a huge part of both my sales and service companies.

Until next time, be safe, be kind and be profitable!

NCSG President Jasper Drengler

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Sweeps Say

What’s been your most successful strategy to gain new customers?

“Word of mouth from our current customers.”

—Brandi Biswell

“Do quality work. Word of mouth referrals!

Quality of the leads are better as well!”

— Gary Smalling

“Our business depends entirely on the repeat business of our customers. We want to make each of our clients feel really great about doing business with us. To do this, we have made it our mission to convey our appreciation for their loyal support. Several times per year, we send them a thank you for your business note along with a value added message about how we strive to go the extra mile for our customers.

We include, our best compliment is a referral from a satisfied customer.”—David Hannah

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“Build a brand with a great reputation.”

– Jasper Drengler “Show up on time, do what you said you would do... this amazes the customer so much they will refer you to others.”—Blume

Look out for each month’s Sweeps Say question on Facebook!

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Annemarie Stockton

Editor’s Letter

H

appy September Sweeps!

Like many of you, we here in Indiana are trying to soak up the last bit of sunshine and warmth before we head into the cold season.

Homeowners are also beginning to prepare for the upcoming chilly weather and will start looking for chimney and venting professionals in their area. Make sure you are at the top of their list! Check out our Sweeps Say to see how other sweeps are gaining new customers.

Whether you are booked up with old clients or

adding some new ones to the schedule, Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill from Spark Marketer have some great tips on how to customize the customer experience on page 6.

Servicing gas appliances is a great add-on and skill to have in your tool belt. Guest contributor, Kyle Pompey of Sin Cal Chimney, Hearth and Home in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, has some tips on gas appliances in this month’s Technical Q and A. And make sure to take a look at Roydhouse Round Up for some ways CSIA can help you with your gas training and education.

Editor

Finally, thank you to everyone who is joining us for our 2020-2021 membership year! We have some real exciting things in store for you all, and we’re thrilled to have each and every one of you along for the ride.

If you haven’t already, make sure to renew your membership so you don’t miss out! We know times are tough right now, so give us a call and we can talk about different financing options to make membership with the NCSG work within your budget.

Sweeps Luck to all this September!

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4 Quick & Easy Ways to Customize the Customer Experience & Get Happier Customers Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill

Y

ou offer a specific set of services and hold yourself to a high standard.

When someone hires you for the job, they’re guaranteed a job well done, no matter who they are or what service you’re providing to them.

client sounds like a lot of work. But here’s a little secret: there are some simple ways to customize your service, without a lot of forethought or added effort. And if you implement them, you’ll likely see an increase in positive reviews, customer loyalty, and referrals.

But have you ever thought about what you can do to customize or tailor your service to each client, and what that would do for business?

Ready to hear four quick and easy ways you can customize the customer experience? Let’s get started…

The truth is, when you provide a customized or seemingly customized customer experience, you typically end up with much happier clients. Why? Because they feel special. They feel taken care of.

They feel like you understand them and you care enough to meet their specific needs.

#1 Tailor your requirements of your customer to their age and ability

Of course, tailoring your services to each specific

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A lot of chimney companies have a policy that asks clients to remove furniture and other items in the area where they’ll be working. The old sixfeet rule. Well, that’s all well and good for an able-

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bodied person in their 30s or 40s, but that’s a lot to ask of a feeble 85 year-old woman.

have to call their sons, daughters, or neighbors to help them prepare for your appointment.

So before asking anything of your clients, consider their age and abilities. If a policy or request seems like a big ask for your client, consider ditching it in that particular instance. Let them know that you’ll take care of moving the furniture for them, and that they don’t need to worry about it. It can be a big relief for your older clients if they know they don’t

#2 Add a customized packet to your estimate or quote Obviously any quote or estimate you provide is customized for each client. But why stop there? Why not provide an additional packet or short video that’s specific to the services you’re providing and answers questions your client may have?

Educate them on the

process, what goes into doing the job right, and what they can expect when you arrive to do the work.

Not only will an educational packet or short video showcase your expertise and affirm that they’ve made the right choice in hiring you, but it will also give the client a sense of confidence — because they’ll know what to expect.

And of course, it makes your bid or estimate feel more customized, and shows a high level

of professionalism, which can only enhance your business.

#3 Use your customer’s feelings to frame your COVID-19 response COVID-19 is still here and it may be one of those viruses that never truly “goes away.”

What does that mean for essential home services? It means your new safety and sanitation standards are probably here to stay. They’re your new normal.

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That said, how you frame and explain the extra steps and precautions you’re taking to keep your clients and technicians safe may need to differ from client to client.

We all don’t agree on what needs to be done or how far we should take our efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which is one reason why it’s still going strong here in the U.S. So how do you customize your care to your clients and their feelings about the whole thing?

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One home services contractor we know gets a feel for where his clients stand on safety and sanitation practices during the estimate process. After introducing himself and before coming into the home, he says, “I’m going to put on my mask now.”

Regardless of whether the customer says “Oh, I’m not worried about it,” or “Thank you,” or something else, he wears the mask.

But he also uses their response to gauge how much he should focus on highlighting and communicating the safety and sanitation practices he’ll be implementing on the

job. Their responses don’t change what he does, but they do change how he frames it.

For example, if the customer seems appreciative and shares some of their anxiety around COVID-19, he’ll make a point to explain every single precaution he’s taking. He’ll also ask if there’s anything else they would like him to do for their safety and peace of mind.

If the customer expresses a lack of concern, he may only lightly brush over his safety and sanitation practices, mentioning that it’s how he always does business, regardless of the pandemic.

Through his attentiveness, he’s able to provide a customized experience, while acknowledging his customer’s feelings without judgment. And in the end, it doesn’t affect what he does for their safety or his — it just affects their perception.

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you’re going through a divorce and you probably drink more than you should. But keep your eyes and ears open for things you and your clients have in common, or ways you can relate.

For example, is your client apologizing because her dogs are barking like the world’s going to end during the estimate or job? Let her know it’s okay and that you can relate. Nothing brings people together like pets! An example response could be, “Oh, it’s alright. I’ve got two pups at home, so I know how it is.”

When you respond in a way that shows your understanding, humanity, and alikeness, you’ll likely notice a total change in your client’s face.

She’ll probably want to know all about your pups, and you may even end up sharing horror puppy stories. Instant connection — plus, you’ve eliminated their embarrassment about the barking dogs. And we can promise she’ll like you more than she did before the exchange.

So remember, to really take the customer experience to the next level and keep customers happier and more loyal, you don’t have to work wonders.

Just implement these four quick and easy tips: 1. tailor your requirements to your customer, 2. customize your estimates with a packet or video, 3. tailor frame your COVID-19 practices to your customer, and 4. get personal.

Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill are the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Nashville, Tennessee-based digital marketing company that works primarily with service businesses. They’re also cocreators of the award-winning app Closing Commander, which helps contractors close more estimates effortlessly, and co-authors of the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles for Building a Kickass Business You Love. Both regularly speak at service industry trade shows and conferences across the nation. Visit www. sparkmarker.com, www.about. closingcommander.com, www. facebook.com/sparkmarketer, or www.facebook.com/ closingcommander.

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Steve Scally

Technical Q and A Gas Appliances — What You Need To Know

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This month’s topic is gas, so I asked my friend, Kyle Pompey, owner of Sin Cal Chimney, Hearth and Home, based in Hillsboro NH, for help. In the state of New Hampshire, one must have a pipe fitter’s license in order to work with gas appliances. Kyle is one of only a handful of sweeps in NH that has his pipe fitter’s license. He is also an NFI gas instructor.

If you are working with gas appliances, be sure you know and understand your state’s license requirements!

When you first were getting into gas appliances, what are some of the musts you need to know?

There are some specific tools you will need to have when working on gas. For example, if you work with ventless gas appliances, a carbon monoxide analyzer is a must-have item. For other gas appliances, the most important tools you will need are a manometer to measure gas pressure, a multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance, a gas pressure testing gauge, an electronic gas sniffer or leak detection fluid, and a digital temperature meter.

One of the first things that you need to know when servicing gas appliances is what kind of system it is – natural gas or propane. This is because

propane and natural gas have different characteristics as far as gas pressures and atmospheric pressures. Once you determine what kind of appliance it is, the next thing would be to identify what kind of venting is required for that appliance. Some appliances require B vents, other are direct vents, and then there are those who require standard chimney liners (either clay flue tiles or stainless steel liners).

After you determine the proper venting, you would need to inspect the chimney it is venting into to make sure the venting is sufficient enough for that appliance. Just as with solid fuelburning appliances, the things to look for would be the size of the chimney vent, whether it is an outside or an inside chimney, and if the appliance is properly connected according to the manufacturer’s specification as well as local codes.

When inspecting a gas furnace or boiler, the first thing to check out would be the tag on the appliance (which would give you the information you need to determine the proper sizing), the furnace connector piping to the chimney, and the chimney itself (is there staining/soot around the thimble area, are there cracks in the brick/block, water damage, etc.). To inspect

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the interior of the chimney and/or to sweep the flue, the furnace should be shut off prior to disconnecting the connector pipe. Only after you are done working with the interior of the chimney would the furnace then be turned back on. If there are deficiencies found during the initial inspection or after the cleaning, you would recommend the proper repairs that need to be done, such as a new liner or proper venting.

Everything should be noted down on paperwork and/or digital reports, and you should have photographs of everything.

Documenting everything not only helps you later if you need to go back to make the repairs, but it also helps the customer understand what needs to be done. If you found a major deficiency where the appliance could not be properly vented and posed a serious health risk, then the system would be remain shut off and a red tag would be put in place.

When servicing other gas appliances such as a gas fireplace, a gas insert, or gas log sets, the very first piece of information you would want to know from the customer is if they have experienced any problems with the unit. If they tell you that nothing is wrong

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with the unit, you would then inspect the unit to see if you notice anything that could be an indication that something is not correct. Look for the rating tax plate and determine if the unit is natural gas or propane.

Once you verify which fuel the unit requires, check the meter for the propane tank or natural gas line. When you have definitely verified that the proper fuel is being used for the appliance, briefly start up the appliance to watch the flame characteristics. Things to look for would be flame impingement, are the flames are the proper color for the unit, and the size of the flames. Document and photograph anything that is not right. Once you have verified the unit is functional and operating correctly, you can turn the unit off in order to clean the logs, the burners, the pilot assembly, and the interior of the unit.

Be sure to shut off the gas and electric supply and to also disconnect any remote controls to prevent the appliance from being accidentally turned on. When you have finished cleaning and servicing the unit, relight and adjust the pilot flame according to the manufacturer’s

instructions. Check the gas pressures as well as the voltage to the unit. If there are other gas appliances in the home, you would also want to turn them on in order to check the unit’s gas pressures to verify that they are within the manufacturer’s specifications. If the gas pressure drops below the manufacturer specifications, there is most likely something wrong with a gas piping size. A good practice to develop is to always check the gas piping and verify that it is installed properly and is properly sized,

S weeping | September | 2020

including following it all the way back to the regulator. Write down all of your readings as well the gas pressures and voltage levels and present it to the customer. If there is something wrong with the gas lines for the regulators, advise the customer of what needs to be corrected before any further use of the unit.

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Coach’s Corner Have You Ever Painted The Picture?

S 16

trange way to start an article for sure, but this is the question I pose to you this month.

What is this picture I am speaking of? This would be the picture of where you want to be in your future. The picture of what you want your life to be.

But go even deeper, the picture of your perfect life, the life that meets your expectations and provides the satisfaction of accomplishing your big goal.

Life is a journey, and so often the journey of life takes strange turns that we can never fully anticipate. Let us look at the present year of 2020 – who in the world could have anticipated what this year would have brought each of us, the chaos that 2020 heaped on so many?

As I look back on 2020, I am reminded of a meme I saw on social media. It appeared on the week of March 8 and it said the following, “A Week with

a Full Moon on Friday the 13th, one can only imagine what may happen”. And over that week, the chaos began.

The chaos of COVID-19 and the following months proved to be severe challenges, and likely changed the lives of many. But again, this does not stop the journey of life, nor the voyage to our individual hopes and dreams. It simply means we ran into a little detour, and these detours should never change the big picture for us.

Each of us must have a destination in mind.

And as my friend Ellen Rohr shared in her “Perfect Day” presentation, we not only need a viewpoint of our perfect day, but also a viewpoint of what we would each consider our “Perfect Life”. Each and every time I present or attend a seminar presented by others, I watch those who are present. As they hear the words of the presenter, so often

S weeping | September | 2020

they hear the stories of how to get where the listener wants to go, and often build a vision of where they plan to go with what they are learning. But what I also observe from so many is a failure to carry forth the plan they form in their minds in the passion of the moment.

Carrying through to do the work involved to get there often becomes a casualty of the dream they had and wished for. What is lacking is that clear vision.

Is there a process to that perfect day, even to that perfect life, the one we dream of and can envision? Can you envision yours?

If so, isn’t it time to paint that picture, that picture that shows what your perfect life is? And once you complete your picture, and have in your mind, the following are the steps to get there.

First, make a decision that you will achieve your perfect life.

Though this is just

the beginning, and only an idle thought at this time. Now make the next step, called Commitment.

In order to make the journey real and happen, you must have commitment to that decision you made.

Now you have commitment, what comes next? Setting the goals to make it real.

But it takes so much more that setting that gigantic long-term goal.

You must break it down into manageable steps you plan to take. One of the best processes to do this is to follow the advice if Gino Wickman in his book “Traction”.

Break your longterm goal into small management steps. This will be the staircase you walk as you to reach your dreams at the top!

Then comes the work.

This is also where we often stall. We simply are not prepared for the work that is involved; maybe we did not envision the bumps we would encounter.

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Celebrating 10 Magical Years First Impressions

Repeat customers are essential to the success of any home service business. Many customers will decide whether or not they will invite you back in their homes based on their first impressions. While many things in life give us that shot at the proverbial DO-OVER, you will never get a second chance to set a first impression.

So when does that first impression take place? Is it when you pick up the phone? Is it when they open their door? Is it when they see your van on the road? Is it when they read your advertising? Is it when they hear about you from a friend or neighbor? The answer is yes to all of the above. While an article could be written on each of these topics, let me try to offer some simple basic tips.

Whether an employee, family member or a call service, a professional live voice is your best bet for incoming calls. If you are working with an answering machine, be sure the message you leave is professional with a precise time frame when you will return calls. Always return calls promptly. When you knock on the customer’s door, be ready to play your part. Wear a clean shirt. To keep clean, consider Tyvek coveralls that are light and easy to remove.

Engage the customer. Always, always SMILE and introduce yourself. Explain the cleaning process then ask if they have questions or concerns. Keep your office, i.e. van looking good.

To many customers, a clean and organized van represents how you run your business, clean and organized. Messaging on vans and advertising should provide a clear message of services offered and contact information. Lastly, provide honest estimates and quality work.

If you always practice these basic tips, referrals and repeat business will soon be the staple of your success.

— Pierre Simard, Owner

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Another item that often arises is that you must sometimes “give up to go up”, and we may find we are not committed to the goal enough to give up what we must in order to go up.

Will there be times you fail? Certainly, you are human. When you fail, fail forward as described by Dr. John Maxwell. As you fail, understand failure is giving you the education and training you need to succeed the next time. You see significant winners have been significant

losers more times than they have won. Also remember, the world will throw chaos at you.

Hopefully none will equal the year of 2020, but yes, chaos is a part of life. Being able to navigate through chaos is made easier when we know where our journey is taking us.

Want to progress to your perfect day, your perfect life? Or better yet, are you ready to live that perfect day, to experience that perfect life? Decide what that is and paint the picture.

Do not let anyone else decide your direction,

18

S weeping | September | 2020

do not let others decide if your dream is the right one. After all, it is your dream and it is your vision of your perfect life that you are painting. Don’t worry about making your picture the one to intrigue others; make it the picture of what intrigues you.

Follow the steps, and make your perfect life your reality. Life is too short not to live your personal dreams in this world.

About the Author: Jerry Isenhour is an industry consultant, educator and coach who authors a monthly article in Sweeping as a service to the industry. A Past President of NCSG & CSIA along with serving in several volunteer industry positions over his career. For more information about Jerry and how his team can assist you individually and your business in your quest for success and your ascent to the next level, take a look at his web site www. cvcsuccessgroup.com He can be contacted at jerry@ cvcsuccessgroup.com or by phone at (704) 425-0217. You can also obtain great business tips from his Facebook page CVC Coaching and YouTube channel CVC Coaching.

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S weeping | September | 2020

History Project Sweeping magazine has changed and evolved over the years, just as our industry has grown and transformed. Still, it continues to be one of our very favorite ways to communicate with our members and those in the chimney and venting industry.

20

‘85 S weeping | September | 2020

We’ve seen some fantastic features, covering anything and everything from technical tips to customer relations and marketing plans to event recaps. Sweeping magazine strives to continually push forward, but this month let’s take a look back at Sweeping’s past.

‘90

21

‘95 S weeping | September | 2020

S weeping | September | 2020

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S weeping | September | 2020

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S weeping | September | 2020 WWW.NEWENGLANDCHIMNEYSUPPLY.COM • 866.513.2378

Bill Meet Majewski

a Member

Meet Bill Majewski with Golden’s Chimney Lining in Princeton, Wisconsin.

Bill is a long-time member of the NCSG, and he tells us why he loves being a part of the NCSG family.

26

What is a question you get asked most about being a chimney sweep/chimney sweeping/the industry?

People always ask if I can go inside the chimney.

Then I explain to them how it all works How did you get started in the industry?

An ad in the Chicago paper. They were hiring chimney sweeps through a telemarketing company. I was a carpenter for years, and every fall it would slow down. I saw the ad in the paper to become a chimney sweep. I was their first chimney sweep, and once I began, I never looked back.

What advice do you wish you had received when you were getting started?

I got that advice four months after I began sweeping. I met Terry Dearborn, and he told me I need to get certified. So I got certified. That was a big game changer for me.

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What is the biggest challenge you face on the job?

What are your best strategies for overcoming it?

Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork.

I would much rather do the physical labor than paperwork. The best strategy for overcoming this is getting the paperwork done right away and not putting it off. If I put it off then it probably doesn’t get done or it takes me forever.

Who was your most famous customer?

I have two. One is Christie Hefner, who was the CEO of Playboy, and Mike Ditka, who was the coach of the Chicago Bears.

Have you ever attended NCSG Annual Convention & Trade Show? If so, what was your favorite takeaway?

I have been to many chimney sweep conventions. I love most everything about the conventions. I love the education and the trade show. Mostly, I love seeing the others in the industry and getting to know new people while seeing those I’ve known and called friends for years.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Marrying my wonderful wife, Tammy.

Have you ever had to make your own tool to solve a particular problem?

All the time! I created an adjustable grinder on a pole to cut out mortared in place flue tiles. I also created a portable ovalizer for on the job site. It ovalizes stainless steel liners.

Weirdest thing you have ever found in a chimney?

Over the years I have found 2 nail guns in a chimney.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to travel and see new things. I also like to go to hockey games or just watch hockey.

What is, in your opinion, the most valuable part of being a member of the National Chimney Sweep Guild?

Being able to call other members to ask their advice. I love the family that the NCSG is and I love being a part of that.

Thanks, Bill! Do you know who should be the next featured member? Send your nominations to Annemarie Stockton at astockton@ncsg.org.

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S weeping | September | 2020

27

Brittney Burton

Membership and Outreach Coordinator

28

Membership Memo

S

eptember marks the beginning of the 2020 – 2021 Membership Year. As we look forward upon this new year, I want to highlight a few items we have on the horizon.

But first, I want to say thank you to all of you that have renewed your membership for another year and all of our new members that have joined over the past 12 months.

Congratulations to all of the companies that won a prize during our 2020 SweepsStakes drawings.

Everything we are able to do for the industry is entirely because of your continued support. I look forward to serving all of you as your Membership Coordinator this year and hope to provide you with the best possible benefits.

A key member benefit is connecting with other members. So this year, we will be providing additional opportunities to connect outside of convention. We are expanding our Mentorship Program.

Starting the first of the new year, we will have 3 mentorship

S weeping | September | 2020

sessions each lasting 90 days. Mentors and Mentees will be paired based on mentorship expectations, expertise, and location. At the end of each 90 day session, mentors and mentees will be able to continue their new relationship, exit the program, or choose to participate in another session and become acquainted with additional NCSG Members.

Whether you have been a long time member or have just joined, we are confident that there is a benefit for you.

Of course, if you are looking for something specific, please feel free to send me your suggestions by calling the office (317) 837-1500 or emailing BBurton@ ncsg.org. I am always looking for new benefit opportunities for our members.

Continuing to support the growth of the industry through advocacy is of utmost importance. We hope to have big announcements to make on some current advocacy projects in the coming months.

In the meantime, we will connect you to new business education throughout the year to help you grow and maintain your business opportunities, navigate the digital marketing world, and provide the highest level of service to your customers. Be sure to check out eNewslink, Sweeping Magazine, and the NCSG Brainery to get all new and existing education opportunities.

Cheers to another year!

Brittney Burton

Roydhouse Round Up

11. History and consumer preferences show wood stoves, wood fireplaces and pellet stoves will have a solid market but not an expanding market.

by Chuck Roydhouse, CSIA President president@csia.org “Control your own destiny or someone else will.”

-Jack Welch I was recently reading a back issue of Hearth and Home as I do from time to time to revisit old ideas and evaluate if they are still correct. The topic was the future of the hearth service authored by James Houck. After perusing the article, I investigated the thesis and found it to be still correct in its hypothesis.

The assumptions were: 1. The number of households in the U.S. will continue to grow and the need for heat will not disappear.

2. 49% of new single-family homes built since 2015 have one or more fireplaces.

3. Natural gas is the fuel responsible for the biggest allocation of home space heating in North America.

4. The availability of natural gas is high and the cost is low.

5. Availability + Low Cost + Convenience + Cleanliness creates a very attractive fuel for heating and decorative fireplaces.

6. The use of gas for both heating and decorative fireplaces is growing rapidly and in many cases replacing fuels such as wood, coal and fuel oil.

7. Almost 90% of newly constructed homes in the northeast use natural gas as their main heating fuel.

8. Shipment records show gas fireplaces have substantially exceeded wood fireplaces.

9. Approximately 25% of gas fireplaces are in homes originally designed for wood burning, but have converted to a gas log set.

10. The domestic availability and low cost of natural gas is very likely to stimulate the expansion and sales/service of gas heaters and fireplaces.

What Does This Mean for You, The Technician and/or Business Owner?

The hearth service and sales industry is in a very desirable position compared to other businesses. With over 120 million occupied homes in the United States and the addition of 500,000 to 2 million new dwellings built annually for the last 10 years (with the trend expected to continue), now is the time to act. This is a huge marketplace for properly trained and credentialed technicians.

CSIA Answers the Call We are your go-to training institute for Gas Service Instruction.

Offerings CSIA Surefire eLearning Gas Courses, CSIA Roadshow Gas Training at your location (individual company or guild/association site) and the CSIA Tech Center 5-Day Course. This course covers the service and installation, including appliance standards, combustion requirements, pipe sizing and installation, troubleshooting, carbon monoxide testing and fuel conversion.

With wood and pellet service not expanding as exponentially as gas service, it seems self-evident that gas is the future. Do not go the way of the blacksmith, get your CSIA Gas Training today!

“No dream is too big. No challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach.” – President Donald J. Trump CSIA IS THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CHIMNEY AND VENTING INDUSTRY! Chuck Roydhouse President CSIA

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www.CSIA.org Hi Everyone, I wanted to give you an update on what is happening with CSIA education of late with COVID-19 affecting the country and numerous travel and quarantine requirements.

We started back with our full schedule in mid-June, and it has been going very well. We are following CDC and state protocols, including maintaining social distancing, requesting wellness checks and wearing masks. The safety of our students, visitors, and staff is of the utmost importance.

We have filled every CSIA National Training Academy event this year with a waiting list to get in. We have accomplished this by opening up the room.

You might notice that the room would hold many more students than the 30 we allow in each class and ask why the limit at 30. In order to have the best instructor to student ratio to maximize learning, we have decided to cap each CNTA at that number.

When the schedule for next year is published, do not delay in signing up for your preferred time slot to make sure you can attend the CNTA of your choice.

A huge assist to our efforts to have classes safely was new technology that we had installed just before the stay at home orders shut us down for a while. Our new smart board opens up many cool things to instructors to assist in learning for our attendees. (The board is bigger and clearer than using a projector for instruction, which has been great with the larger room we are utilizing.) As part of this upgrade, also we have an awesome sound system to make hearing easy, no matter where you are in the room.

One of the features of our new smart board that we have started utilizing is the ability to teach not only those in the classroom, but also have students who can sit in remotely. The remote students can see both the PowerPoint and instructor, and can even communicate with the instructor just as if they are sitting in the room.

We are looking forward to doing more with remote learning in the future.

Stay safe and remember, CSIA is The Standard of Excellence in the Chimney & Venting Industry!

Russ Dimmitt CSIA & NCSG Education Director

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16

CANCELLED

Aug 10-11

1

Manchester, NH | Aug 1-2

September 2020

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S weeping | September | 2020

33

Megan McMahon Executive Director

Around the Tech Center

S

ummer is flying by here at the Tech Center and we have been fortunate enough to host so many of you for classes. The staff always enjoys the company and building relationships within the industry that we serve.

To continue that, we thought we would share some of our favorite things about summer with you!

What is your favorite summer vacation spot?

34

Natalie — Cocoa Beach, FL Brittney — Anywhere in nature. I haven’t found the perfect spot yet.

Kaitlyn — Florida Sara — Condo on the beach (Destin, FL) or a cabin in the mountains (Gatlinburg, TN) Annemarie — Dale Hollow Lake or visiting a new city Megan — Anywhere with a beach!

Tammy — Florida Charissa — Garden City, SC Penny — Florida Russ — Warm not too hot, quiet, calm breezes

S weeping | September | 2020

What is your favorite summer treat?

Natalie- — Mint chocolate chip ice cream Brittney — Lemon shake ups and ice cream Kaitlyn — Pineapple Sara — Homemade ice cream Annemarie — Iced coffee Megan — Ice cream Tammy — Ice cream Charissa — Strawberry shortcake Penny — Fresh fruit Russ — Ice cream

What is your favorite summer activity?

Natalie — Lounging in the pool Brittney — Long weekend camping and kayaking Kaitlyn — Going kayaking!

Sara — Swimming and yardwork Annemarie — Campfires and the watching movies at the Drive-In Megan — Running and swimming Tammy — Camping, swimming and boating Charissa — Swimming at the pool or the beach Penny — Playing in the ocean with my family and my annual birthday girls’ trip at Dale Hollow Lake.

Russ — Fishing

In Case You

Missed

it…

Nominations for Meet a Member Do you know a friend or colleague doing great work in our industry that deserves a little recognition? Nominate them to be featured on NCSG.org and Sweeping Magazine in the Meet Member feature.

Send names to Annemarie Stockton at astockton@ncsg.org.

Renewal Season is Here!

Renewals for the 2020/2021 Membership year are due this month. We wanted to thank our members who continue to stick with us year after year – we wouldn’t be where we are without each and every one of you! We’ve got some really great things in store this next year, and we’d love to have you along for another trip around the sun.

Renewing is easy! Log into NCSG.org to pay your invoice online.

35

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CHIMNEY SWEEP & REPAIR COMPANY FOR SALE Central/Northern Virginia Established 1981 2017 revenue: $ 1,009,000.00 2018 revenue: $ 1,083,000.00 2019 revenue: $ $1,266,214.03 EBITDA: $272,704.29 All equipment and vehicles convey Operations and management staff to remain Turn-key operation Secure long-term lease for offices and warehouse Owner financing with 25% down Sale price: $ 475,000.00

CLASSIFIED ADS FREE FOR NCSG MEMBERS Members can run one 35-word classified free each year! Regular classified ads are $2/word or $1/ word for NCSG members. Classified ads are noncommissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, please contact Natalie Spruell at nspruell@ncsg.org or 317-837-1500.

Call 540-272-3485

S weeping | September | 2020

Darwin Award See a chimney in your area that had you scratching your head? Send it to the editor, Annemarie Stockton at astockton@ncsg.org for publication in Sweeping. Include a few words about the scene and location.

“This customer is having drafting and carbon monoxide issues after the roofing company knocked her chimney down at the roof line, roofed over the chimney and attached 6 inch liner from the fuel furnace to an ordinary roof vent.”

Matthew Scheller Smokestack Sweep LLC Howell, MI

36

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S weeping | September | 2020

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